Former Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram has often been candid about his life’s highs and lows — from battling drug addiction to reclaiming his path through cricket. One of the turning points in his life came when Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan offered him the role of bowling coach for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), a job that helped him find his footing once again. In a throwback interview with VU Sports, Wasim Akram shared an incredible story that captures Shah Rukh’s generosity and commitment to his team. Recalling an incident from the 2012 IPL season, Wasim said, “We had a knockout match in Kolkata, but our travel plans were complicated. I went up to Shah Rukh Khan and said, ‘Khan saab, I have a request. The boys will be exhausted if we travel as scheduled; we’ll arrive tomorrow and the match is the day after. Can we arrange a private plane?’ Without missing a beat, Shah Rukh said, ‘The boys will be tired? No problem.’ And within one hour, there was a full Boeing aircraft ready for the entire team.” The bowling coach role with KKR was particularly significant for Wasim, who had recently emerged from a brutal rehabilitation experience. In his autobiography, Akram revealed that his time at a rehab facility in Lahore was far from nurturing. “It was a bare building with five cells, a meeting room, and a kitchen. It was brutal,” he wrote. Landing a job at KKR, courtesy of Shah Rukh Khan, marked the beginning of a new chapter for the cricketing great. Wasim isn’t the only one to have praised Shah Rukh’s approach as a team owner. Former KKR captain and coach Gautam Gambhir also recalled how SRK’s hands-off attitude helped create a healthy environment. In a chat with Ravichandran Ashwin, Gambhir said, “Since I joined, we haven’t spoken about cricket. The first thing he told me was, ‘I don’t like people telling me how to act, and I’m sure you won’t like anyone telling you how to play cricket.’ And that was it. He never interfered with strategy or team selection.” Over the years, Shah Rukh Khan has remained one of the most passionate owners in the IPL, often seen cheering animatedly from the stands for KKR. But behind the glitz, stories like these reveal the quiet, thoughtful ways he has supported and empowered his team — not just as a superstar, but as a leader who genuinely cares.